The Big Picture of Scripture – OT

If you have ever traveled to Europe, you may have gotten a chance to gawk in amazement at grand cathedrals, with their impressive structures, ornate decorations, inspiring art and stained glass, and uncomfortable seats designed to keep the listeners awake. Every town has at least one.

Here in the United States, “The Bible Belt” is described as having “a church on every corner.” Many such buildings are not architecturally ornate but are decked out with technology and even stadium seating.

Whether modern and theater-like, or old and iconic, we call these buildings “churches.” But is that what a church is?

“Where do you go to church?” That simple, common question speaks volumes about the predominant, modern definition of church. Is church a location? A building?

When we talk about “attending” church, we think of it as not just a building, but as a program or performance. It’s an event, with people gathering to sing, pray, listen to a preacher, then go home. Such services (with a wide variety) take place every Sunday all over the world. Is church a weekly event?

What exactly is a church? What does it mean to be a part of a church? What is special about North Country Fellowship Church?

These are all questions I hope to answer during our time together over the next few weeks.

TO UNDERSTAND the church, we really have to step back at take a look at the Big Picture of the Scripture.

CAVEAT: there is no one outline of the Bible that will do it justice. ANY attempt to summarize the work of God from creation to the end of time will be incomplete. However, it can be very beneficial to pick a theme, or a thread, and follow it through the scriptures.

The Grand Narrative of The Bible

The Bible is God’s Word. It tells us about God, his character, heart, actions and mission. It is where we get our understanding of life and what it means to live with God and for God.

[IF YOU MISSED IT, check out the sermon from a few weeks ago, “The Bible Matters”]

The Bible tells one big story, made up of sixty-six individual books. It was written in three different languages by forty different authors on three different continents over a period of about 1,500 years. Yet, the message is consistent, and the story is cohesive.

By understanding the big picture of the biblical narrative, we can begin to understand the church: her place, identity and mission.

Creation

The Bible narrative begins by introducing the creator God, Yahweh, who made the universe and everything in it, and of his relationship with humankind, created with a unique design and purpose.

Genesis 1:26–28 CSB

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. ²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

God’s creation, including humans, was not just good, it was very good.

Genesis 1:31 || God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed… [CSB]

But God’s creation did not remain in an ideal condition. God gave Adam and Eve a purpose which reflected him: to re-create (be fruitful and multiply), to rule (subdue the earth), and to be the image-bearers of God to the rest of the world. God also gave them one command about something they must not do:

Genesis 2:15–17 || The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” [CSB]

The Fall – Man Distanced from Yahweh

Genesis 3 introduces an enemy who is on a mission to corrupt God’s creation. Through slight of tongue and manipulation of desires, the serpent convinced Eve to distrust and betray God by taking and eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and bad. Eve, in turn, convinced Adam to do the same.

Genesis 3:6 CSB

⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

NOTE: that concept of “seeing, desiring, and taking” that which is forbidden is another thread you can follow through the scriptures…

Eve and Adam’s disobedience to God brought about immediate consequences.

Genesis 3:7–8 || Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [CSB]

The humans fractured their relationship with each other. They saw their nakedness as something to cover up. They also damaged their relationship with their creator. Instead of enjoying God’s presence, they were afraid of what he might do to them. Instead of walking and talking with Yahweh in the Garden, they hid from him.

The consequences of this event, often referred to as the fall, demonstrate how the bad things of this world are a result of our selfish desires and disobedience to God’s commands. From that point on, all of creation suffered the consequences of Adam and Eve’s actions.

But God showed his compassion for Adam and Even by seeking them out. He went looking for them when they hid. He gave them a chance to confess their wrongdoing by asking them what they had done.

They confessed, and God forgave them.

Genesis 3:21 || The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them. [CSB]

God made the first animal sacrifice to help cover the shame of humans and restore some sense of dignity to them. In doing this, God demonstrated his compassion on them as well as his desire to continue in relationship with mankind.

THIS example of God’s desire to restore relationship with his creation one of THE major themes of the Narrative of the Bible.

However, life on earth would forever be different:

• Adam and Eve were exiled from Eden, an ideal garden home, into a world of chaos and struggle.
• They would toil for what they need in life, suffering pain and hardship.
• They would struggle with their desire to see and take things for themselves, defining truth, goodness, and wisdom on their own terms, instead of trusting Yahweh their creator to teach and lead them as they walk with him.

The Covenant with Noah

The condition of mankind continued to spiral downward with the first murder of Able by his brother Cain and Cain is further banished from God’s presence. And then there are descendants of Cain that continue to become even more violent.

Eventually, God makes the call to flood the earth and start with a clean slate.

Genesis 6:5–8 NLT

⁵ The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. ⁶ So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. ⁷ And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” ⁸ But Noah found favor with the Lord.

God chose to spare one man and his family. Most people have heard of the story of the Ark, and the animals.

›     ask: The animals went on the ark in what quantities?

You might be tempted to answer, 2 of every kind. That is partially true 😉. That was the number of “unclean animals”. But of the “clean” animals and birds, 14 of each were taken on – check out Genesis 7.

God DID floods the earth and killed off all the animals, birds, people and bugs that were not on the ark. (even wonder why the mosquito made the cut?)

Then God made a covenant with Noah:

Genesis 9:8–15 CSB

⁸ Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, ⁹ “Understand that I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by floodwaters; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: ¹³ I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature.

Perhaps Noah would be the promised one who would crush the serpent? He did what God told him, and he had  a clean slate. NOPE. Not many days after that, Noah blows it. The world continues in the downward spiral… because:

Genesis 8:21 CSB

²¹ When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.

The Covenant with Abraham

Eventually, God selected a man named Abram, through whom he would display his generosity and power, and eventually bless everyone else through Abram’s descendants. He made a promise to Abram, a covenant:

Genesis 12:1–3 The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. [CSB]

When God said, “all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you,” God was reminding Abram of the promise of the Messiah. He would be a descendant of Abraham to restore God’s relationship and blessings to mankind.

God did bless Abram. He changed his name to Abraham and made him the father of the nation Israel. They were God’s chosen people and experienced a relationship with God like no other group on earth. One of the ways God blessed them was by being with them. Since the fall, God had distanced himself from mankind because a holy God cannot live among sinful people.

Abraham’s family was a mess. Abraham did not obey God and lacked trust in God at times. His descendants were schemers and wicked.

Did any of you grow up with older brothers that were mean to you? It’s a problem of Biblical proportion! Joseph was almost killed and then, as an act of mercy, sold into slavery by his older brothers. The conclusion of that story was God protecting Abraham’s family by bringing them to Egypt.

Eventually, the situation in Egypt goes bad and the Israelite (descendants of Abraham) are in slavery for 400 years.

The Covenant with Moses

This is when Moses enters the scene. He was one of the greatest prophets who ever lived and the first person that we read about that God got mad at!

God used Moses to lead the people out of bondage and to freedom where they could worship and have a relationship with God.

Through Moses and the Torah (Law) God provided a way for mankind to obey Him and to purify themselves through sacrifices. Because of the new system of sacrifice, God was able to dwell among mankind, but in a shrouded way, not simply walking among them.

The Israelites constructed a tabernacle—a mobile, temporary dwelling place for God while they were nomads in the wilderness.

Exodus 40:34 CSB

³⁴ The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Eventually, Israel entered the land God had given to Abraham, the Promised Land. But the most significant change was that God’s presence was among humans once again. It as shrouded and imperfect, but better than isolation.

And God made another covenant with Moses and the people.

Exodus 34:10–11 CSB

¹⁰ And the Lord responded, “Look, I am making a covenant. In the presence of all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done in the whole earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the Lord’s work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring. ¹¹ Observe what I command you today…

Exodus 34:27–28 CSB

²⁷ The Lord also said to Moses, “Write down these words, for I have made a covenant with you and with Israel based on these words.” ²⁸ Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat food or drink water. He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

God’s covenant with Moses and the nation of Israel was that if they kept the commandments of God, if they obeyed all that God told them to do, they would see the blessing of God and have life:

Exodus 19:3–6 CSB

³ Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, ⁶ and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

Though not a complete restoration of the former relationship God had with mankind, it demonstrated his desire for humans to be near him. Yahweh wants people to experience the love he graciously offers instead of the judgement they certainly deserve.

We know that story did not end well. The people even rebelled and demanded a king like the other nations had. They rejected God as their king.

The Covenant with David

Their first king, Saul, was a dreadful failure. BUT, God raised up a new king, one that sought after God. King David, the shepherd.

God made a covenant with David, too.

2 Samuel 7:8–16 CSB

⁸ “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth. ¹⁰ I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done ¹¹ ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“ ‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. ¹² When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. ¹⁵ But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”

After defeating their enemies, they established their cities and towns by clans and established Jerusalem as their holy city. There, they constructed a more permanent structure to “house” the presence of Yahweh, the Temple of Solomon.

2 Chronicles 7:1–3 || When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests were not able to enter the LORD’s temple because the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended, and the glory of the LORD came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the LORD: For he is good, for his faithful love endures forever. [CSB]

The time of David and Solomon were times of peace and prosperity. What a perfect equation, right? The promise of God to bless David, to provide peace and for the perpetuity of his lineage. The promise of an everlasting throne AND a permanent dwelling place for God in the city where God choose to “make his name dwell”.

But the house of David was divided. The Nation of Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms – Northern and Southern.

NOTE: it seems like prosperity and peace can often be the enemies of piety. The more we have and the less we struggle, the easier it is for families and generations to turn their backs on God.

Promise of a FUTURE Covenant

Israel’s leaders, and people, reject God over and over and eventually, God punishes them but does not wipe them out. God raises up nations around them to attack and conquer them because of their rebellions towards him.

During this time, the prophets are the mouthpiece of Yahweh, God. Jeremiah was one of those prophets. He had a lot of critical things to say to Israel. BUT, he also had words of encouragement:

Jeremiah 31:31–34 CSB

³¹ “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. ³² This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. ³³ “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴ No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.

There will be a future covenant that God will make… when He is ready. One that will finally restore God and man. People will KNOW God. Yahweh will be among the people and they will know Him.

 

The rest of the Old Testament is filled with historical accounts of Israel both following and failing God: trusting him, then betraying him to follow other gods; worshipping him, then worshipping themselves as gods. The effects of the fall seem to be unstoppable.

The Old Testament ends with God’s people, the Jews, scattered and defeated, distant from God and waiting for him to fulfill his promise of the Messiah.

 

{pause for about 400 years}

 

As we wrap up the first part of the big picture story of the Scriptures, we end with a depressing look at the condition of mankind, and an optimistic hope that God can, and will, change things once and for all. But when and how?

When all other humans have failed, how is God going to use a human, a seed of the woman, to fix what humans have broken?

By 400 BC the answer still hung in the air. The promise was made, but, just like before, there were 400 years of bondage before a prophet came to show the way to freedom.

• God created man
• God’s creation rebelled against him
• God destroyed his creation

THEN, God showed what he really wanted, from the very beginning – a relationship with his creation.

• God made a promise not to destroy his creation
• God made a promise to bless his creation through Abraham
• God made a promise to free his creation through Moses
• God made a promise to rule over his creation through David
• God made a promise to one day return things back to the Eden ideal

The goodness of Yahweh and his faithful love were demonstrated by Him pursuing and being present among the people he created even though they rejected him time and time again.